La Glorieta, Chancay, Peru

  Castillo de Chancay, Peru

When we left the Mission Training school we traveled to Chancay, Peru. We did outreach in some of the poorest neighborhoods. This city to me seemed to be at odds with what it should be. Let me explain, you look out and see the Pacific Ocean and how beautiful it is. Then you turn around and see the slums crowing around the oceanfront. This visual blew my mind, especially when I come from a society that Oceanfront property is considered prime real estate. It was hard to wrap your mind around this. Now not all of Chancay is poor the downtown area is beautiful with it's gazebo in the plaza. There is a walkway only next to it full of shops and restaurant's. There is a castle there too but I did not get to see it I only saw a picture of it on a postcard.

La Glorieta, Chancay, Peru

In this city we went to an area so poor it rivaled Lima and the children were so happy to see us. We did a children’s program for them and I dressed up as Bubbles the clown again. I didn’t have a clown suit but I had a great time and the kids loved it. Bubbles had candy and beaded bracelets to give away and I thought I had enough for everyone but I was swamped when I started to give them away and there were a few children that didn’t get anything but candy. I had one little girl who cried like her heart was broken and I found something in my bag to give her when everyone was gone. I could not stand to see her weep so.

These were some of the better homes I saw...

Our group stayed with a lady from the church. She graciously opened her home to us and was such a wonderful hostess during our stay. When we first got there it was late at night and when she opened the door to all of us I think she was a little shocked! Especially when we just kept coming in. I think she thought we would never stop! She was so sweet and her three children were so well behaved. Her daughter spent quite a bit of time with us she is so sweet and beautiful. She wanted us to help her with her English. So we spoke to her as much as we could in English. She took me shopping one day as I had run out of clean clothes. That was fun! Not knowing my size in Peru was a challenge as well but as usual I made it an adventure and got some new clothes that at least had not been wore for 2 or 3 days in a row! Plus I must say I got everything at a steal! Things are soooo cheap there.

One last fun thing… The ladies of the church always cooked for us and found it to be an honor to do so. This one lady asked us to pray for her son to start going to church with their family again as he hadn’t been in over 10 years. Our group prayed for her then later that day I met her son he seemed like a nice man. I asked him to go to church with me and he said no. OK, no problem I thought at least I asked. Well the next day the Pastor asked me if I had invited him to church and I said yes. He then asked me if I would go back and ask him again. I said sure and his sister in law and niece were waiting for me when I came out of the apartment to take me to him. When I got there I talked with him and asked him again to go to church with me. He then asked if his family had put me up to this and I answered truthfully no. That it had been my ideal the first time I asked and no one else’s. He smiled and then agreed to go to church with me (he spoke English very well by the way). I had a very pleasant time at church with him and his family was ecstatic to see us. His name was Jesus… How many people get to say they went to church with Jesus? The funny thing about this whole thing is he wanted to talk to me after church to discuss my faith and because of the Peruvian culture I could not be alone with him as I was unmarried. So his family and one of the missionaries went with us to eat dinner after church and talk. It was the sweetest thing BUT I felt like I was a young girl on a date . The family is really a nice group of people and I’m happy to report Jesus is still going to church.

Jesus and Me